Research Fellowship

What is a Research Fellowship?

For applicants who do not see a path forward with SOAP, a research fellowship is often the next best option. Research fellowships are an opportunity for an applicant to strengthen their application with peer-reviewed papers, abstracts, and oral presentations. Research fellowships provide a great opportunity for professional development, as well as increased time for applications and interviews than the first year of a residency program. This is usually the best path for those applicants who identified a lack of research as a weakness in their application. Ideally, applicants can delay graduation by a year and find a research position at their institution. Many residency programs prefer senior medical students over those who have graduated, so remaining enrolled for another year can protect a candidate's application from being filtered out during the selection process. Alternatively, one advantage to graduation is that only medical graduates can take Step 3. If test scores are a particular weakness for an applicant, then doing well on Step 3 could improve their chances.

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If an applicant is unable to stay on as a student and find a research position at their institution, they can expand their search. It is important for an applicant to seek advice from mentors and career advisors on where to find research in their specialty of interest. The NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education offers a list of postdoctoral research programs available to recently graduated medical students. Similar lists and advertisements can be found through specialty specific groups. These positions will require applicants to put together a new application, which can be a time consuming process. Applicants will need updated letters of recommendation, essays tailored to a research focus, and fresh interview preparation. Many institutions and medical programs have resources available for their students to apply to these positions. Research positions, however, do pose their own challenges. For example, it can be challenging to keep up with medical knowledge during this time. Despite these difficulties, research positions can be a time of professional growth directly visible on a candidate's resume.

 

Recap and Conclusion

In conclusion, any applicant considering SOAP or a research fellowship should carefully consider their options in the context of their own goals and aspirations. This decision is most directly affected by an applicant’s desired specialty. For specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and emergency medicine, SOAP offers a good chance of matching into a full, categorical residency program. For specialties such as anesthesia, radiation, and ophthalmology, finding a preliminary residency through SOAP could lead to the next step of an advanced residency. For specialties such as surgery, dermatology, ENT, and obstetric/gynecology, a research fellowship could allow an applicant to expand their CV and apply the following cycle. All of these choices require a candidate to think clearly about their goals for the future. Most importantly however, this process requires a strong support system of family, friends, and professional mentors who can help an applicant. Leaning on others and knowing when to ask for advice is essential for moving forward with a fulfilling career in medicine.